Bulova 17 Jewel Hand Wind rT-3037 c11BLC 1970
Case Dimensions and features:
- Length: 33.80 mm
- Width: 33.30 mm
- Depth: 6.00 mm w/o crystal, 10.40 mm w/crystal
- Lug Width: 17.90 mm
- Case Back O.D.: 28.25 mm
- Case Back Locking Ring O.D.: 28.80 mm
- Crown: 4.10Dia mm, unsigned
- Crystal: 26.65Dia mm, in case, Domed Acrylic. “T Swiss T” under crystal at 6 o’clock
- Inside case back inscriptions: T-3037; Taiwan; faint watchmaker engraving
- Outside case back inscriptions: Bulova; E57655; N0; Stainless Steel Case
- Movement: 11BLC; Hand Wind
Engraving on Movement: BULOVA WATCH CO; 11BLC; 17; Seventeen Jewels; Unadjusted; Swiss; N0. Under Balance: “85”
Notes: Another hour or so looking through the voluminous MyBulova archives for this model. This one threw me a curve, and perhaps revealed a transitional year for Bulova. To even find a good match for this case I ended up in the year 1971. In that year, the archive has both a Sea King “FY”, and “FX” model cataloged, that have this case. While the “FY” appears identical to my watch dial up, the 1971 version is a top loader. It does have a “T” serial number though, so that suggests it too is a Taiwan case build. So I keep searching, and come up with the 1971 Sea King “FX”, submitted by JimDon in 2024. Black dial and different markers, and also a top-loader like the ’71 “FY” with a “T” serial. Here is where it gets interesting. JimDon also includes a line book illustration for the Sea King “FX”, with a catalog number 11470-2W. In the nomenclature below the image it includes as a feature, “locking ring”. I always thought the locking ring was the threaded ring found on numerous Bulovas that holds the case back tight against the rubber washer. JimDon says it is an internal function of the top-loader, so I may have had this wrong for years. Just what if, the nomenclature was just copied and pasted from a 1970 book, and Bulova had quietly made the change from screw back to top loader from 70’ to ‘71…and the subtle physical difference was not noticed. I know I am stretching here, but I just cannot think of another explanation for how this rather unusual case ends up with a screwback in 1970, and a closed back in 1971…everything else on the "FY" (similar movement) is identical. Of course the Panel will sort this out. Additional note is that this particular movement does not have an import code, so likely European or Asian.
Killer watch! Highly arched, very detailed dial with a silvery, ever so slightly purple, grey hue. Even the whale is different, it is metallic and displays some relief when viewed obliquely. Dimensions are almost square, within a half mm.
